A Solid Deck Begins with Concrete Piers

Build this simple foundation with basic tools and ingredients

Build your deck on concrete piers, and you’ll have a solid foundation that won’t heave or twist as a result of frost or poor soil bearing capacity. Veteran builder Rick Arnold walks us through the how-tos of building deck piers. Rick explains how to size piers for a basic deck and shares his method for a precise layout. You’ll also learn techniques for digging and pouring piers (which include valuable tool tips), when to use spread footings, and how to deal with poor soil bearing capacity.